Lady Isabella Scranton scandalized London by leaving her husband, notorious artist Lord Mac Mackenzie, after only three turbulent years of marriage. But Mac has a few tricks to get the Lady back in his life, and more importantly, back into his bed.

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron: Highland Pleasures, Book 3

A renowned rake, Cameron Mackenzie doesn't care if Ainsley Douglas has a virtuous excuse for sneaking around his bedchamber. He only cares that she's at his mercy. One kiss at a time, he plans to seduce her. But what starts out as a lusty diversion may break Cam's own rules.

The Duke's Perfect Wife: Highland Pleasures, Book 4

Lady Eleanor Ramsay is the only one who knows the truth about Hart Mackenzie. Once his fiancée, she is the sole woman to whom he could ever pour out his heart. Hart has it all - a dukedom, wealth, power, influence, whatever he desires. Every woman wants him - his seductive skills are legendary. But Hart has sacrificed much to keep his brothers safe, first from their brutal father, and then from the world. He's also suffered loss: his wife, his infant son, and the woman he loved with all his heart, though he realized it too late.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie: Highland Pleasures, Book 1

It was whispered all through London society that he was a murderer, that he'd spent his youth in an asylum and was not to be trusted - especially with a lady. Any woman caught in his presence was immediately ruined. Yet Beth found herself inexorably drawn to the Scottish lord whose hint of a brogue wrapped around her like silk and whose touch could draw her into a world of ecstasy.

The Seduction of Elliot McBride

USA Today best-selling author and RITA Award winner Jennifer Ashley pens heart-pounding tales that keep listeners spellbound with torrid romance and finely crafted intrigue. Juliana St. John faces the ultimate mortification when she's stood up on her wedding day. But then fate places her face-to-face with her first love, Elliot McBride, and she finds herself falling for her half-mad former paramour.

The Wicked Deeds of Daniel MacKenzie: Highland Pleasures, Book 6

Daniel Mackenzie lives up to the reputation of the scandalous Mackenzie family - he has wealth, looks, and talent, and women love him. When he meets Violet Bastien - one of the most famous spiritual mediums in England - he immediately knows two things: that Miss Bastien is a fraud, and that he’s wildly attracted to her.

A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift: Highland Pleasures Series, Book 4.5

The Mackenzies gather for a clan Christmas and Hogmanay in Scotland. In the chaos of preparations for the celebration - the first of Hart and Eleanor's married life - one of Ian's Ming bowls gets broken, and the family scrambles to save the day. Daniel busily runs a betting ring for everything from the hour Eleanor's baby will arrive, to whether Mac's former-pugilist valet can win a boxing match, to who will be the first of the many guests to be caught under the mistletoe.

The Untamed Mackenzie: Highland Pleasures Series, Book 5.5

To redeem her family's disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family's lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor. But Louisa's hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet - and she is shockingly accused of murder!

Rules for a Proper Governess: MacKenzies & McBrides, Book 7

Scottish barrister Sinclair McBride can face the most sinister criminals in London - but the widower's two unruly children are a different matter. Little Caitlin and Andrew go through a governess a week, sending the ladies fleeing in tears. There is, however, one woman in town who can hold her own...

Scandal and the Duchess: Highland Pleasures Series, Book 6.5

Scandal follows Rose Barclay, young widow of the Duke of Southdown, wherever she goes. It's never her fault, but newspapers love to write about the simple girl from Scotland and the much older duke who died suddenly on their honeymoon. And now there is even more talk as the legitimacy of the marriage is being contested by the duke's son and heir.

Heartless

Life has taught Lucas Kendrick, duke of Harndon, that a heart is a decided liability. Betrayed by his elder brother, rejected by his fiancée, banished by his father, and shunned by his mother, Luke fled to Paris, where he became the most sought-after bachelor in fashionable society. Ten years later fate has brought him back home to England as head of the family who rejected him. Unwilling as he is to be involved with them, he must assume responsibility for his younger siblings, the family estate he once loved - and the succession.

If He's Noble

For Lady Primrose Wootten, nothing has been ordinary since her father, the baron, died, and his wayward family filled the estate with greed and treachery. Primrose knows if she can just track down her brother, he can send the odious relations on their way. But instead she finds this enormous, powerful stranger and entirely forgets what she was doing in the first place....

Mr. Impossible

Rupert Carsington, fourth son of the Earl of Hargate, is his aristocratic family's favorite disaster. He's irresistibly handsome and unapologetically irresponsible, & trouble follows wherever he goes. Still, Rupert somehow manages to escape entanglement - emotional or other - with maddening grace! But now he's a prisoner in Cairo's most infamous jail and his only chance out is accepting a beautiful widow's dangerous proposal.

Dearest Rogue

Lady Phoebe Batten is pretty, vivacious, and yearning for a social life befitting the sister of a powerful duke. But because she is almost completely blind, her overprotective brother insists that she have an armed bodyguard by her side at all times - the very irritating Captain Trevillion.

Lord Perfect: Carsington Family Series

Tall, dark, and handsome Benedict Carsington, Viscount Rathbourne is the perfect aristocrat. As the heir to the Earl of Hargate, he is renowned for his perfect manners, perfect breeding, and perfect wardrobe. Unlike his scandalous brothers, Benedict is in no danger of ending up in the scandal sheets - until he meets her. Bathsheba Wingate, is a member of the DeLucey family - the rotten side - notorious for being cheats, frauds, and swindlers.

Miss Wonderful: Carsington Brothers, Book 1

War hero Alistair Carsington really really loves women, and his romantic impulses have landed him in nearly as much danger as the Battle of Waterloo. To avoid his usual temptations and perhaps even repay the friend who saved his life, he's exiled himself to a place far from civilization - Derbyshire - in winter! Fate laughs at his good intentions and drives him straight into conflict with Miss Mirabel Oldridge, his match in tenacity, intelligence, and deviousness - who also happens to be wildly irresistible.

The Last Hellion: Scoundrels, Book 4

The Duke of Ainswood, Vere Mallory - the last of the infamous Mallory hellions - lives a charmed life: he's rich, titled, and exceedingly handsome. And he's seemingly bent on throwing it all away in his reckless race toward self-destruction, until a devastatingly beautiful blonde amazon literally knocks him off his feet.

The Duke's Holiday: The Regency Romp Trilogy, Book 1

The cold, precise Duke of Montford demands things his way: neatly ordered, in place, and adhering closely to the rules. So he is furious when he learns that the tenant of his ducal estate has been dead for a year, and a stranger has been running the Honeywell business - which, by contract, is now Montford's. When he arrives in Yorkshire to investigate, he discovers that the estate is being run by an unruly, tomboyish woman - and a bluestocking at that!

Highlander Most Wanted: Montgomerys and Armstrongs, Book 2

Genevieve McInnis is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen's rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress - something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Silk Is for Seduction: The Dressmakers, Book 1

Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirotis London's rising star. And who better to benefit from her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton, the Duke of Clevedon's intended bride? Winning the future duchess' patronage means prestige and fortune for Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady, though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whose standards are as high as his morals are...not. The prize seems well worth the risk-but this time Marcelline's met her match.

My Desperate Highlander: Clan Grant, Book 6

Micheil Ramsay is determined never to settle down. But when he rescues Diana of Drummond and brings her to Edinburgh to snare a husband, he finds himself swayed by her beauty, her bossiness, and her bravery. Now he finds himself in the position of trying to help the object of his affection woo another man.

Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover: The Rules of Scoundrels, Book 4

By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking - in London's darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city's most legendary gaming hell. For years, her double identity has gone undiscovered - until now.

Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride: Scandalous Seasons, Book 1

Lady Emmaline Fitzhugh, a hopeless romantic, is tired of sitting with the wallflowers, waiting for her betrothed to come to his senses and marry her. When Emmaline reads one too many reports of his scandalous liaisons in the gossip rags, she takes matters into her own hands.

Only a Promise

Ralph Stockwood prides himself on being a leader, but when he convinced his friends to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, he never envisioned being the sole survivor. Racked with guilt over their deaths, Ralph must move on...and find a wife so as to secure an heir to his family's title and fortune.

Lord of Scoundrels

Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, is big, bad, and dangerous to know. No respectable woman would have anything to do with the "Bane and Blight of the Ballisters", and he wants nothing to do with respectable women. He's determined to continue doing what he does best - sin and sin again - and all's going swimmingly…until the day a shop door opens and she walks in.

Publisher's Summary

Lady Isabella Scranton scandalized London by leaving her husband, notorious artist Lord Mac Mackenzie, after only three turbulent years of marriage. But Mac has a few tricks to get the Lady back in his life, and more importantly, back into his bed.

What the Critics Say

"Ashley works her magic to create a unique love story brimming over with depth of emotion, unforgettable characters, sizzling passion, mystery, and a story that reaches out and grabs your heart. Brava!" (Romantic Times)

I thought this was going to be the usual 'period romance' you know - rake sees beautiful woman over dance floor but things go wrong type book - but I was very pleasantly surprised. It had everything - romance, humour, intrigue, tears - just a very good listen that was well written.

I have listened out of order so I haven't heard book 1 yet but I can't wait, I would have preferred to listen in order but it did not detract from the book's enjoyment in any way.

Worth my credit? Oh yes absolutely, and it will be an automatic download for the rest in the series. If you like these types of romance novels then you HAVE to get this series !!

This second installment to the series was very good. I didn't think it was as good as book one but I think my expectations were too high. Sometimes that happens. That being said - I still enjoyed this book! I thought the story of Isabella and Mac was intriguing. They had a lot of struggles but Mac was very determined! I will definitely listen to the remainder of this series.

When Isabella and Mac were introduced in The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, I was dying to read their story, but it didn't turn out to be as great as I was expecting. It just didn't have that heart melting romance nor sizzling love scenes like the first book.

This is a story about forgiveness, about fighting for a marriage that was once great but got lost on the way. I found this book to be predictable with no significant character development. All the characters seemed the same on the first page as they were on the last, except with fewer misunderstandings between them.

I felt this story was long. I didn't understand the drama and hesitation from Isabella. She loved her husband and he clearly showed her pretty quickly that he had changed but yet she kept going hot and cold. And the whole imposter thing was strange and unclear.

This is a good story and the last chapter and the epilogue were amazing! I guess that the first book was so incredibly good that my expectations were too high. I'm looking forward to listening to book three though.

Narration: Good narration by Angela Dawe but she still cannot do any accent other that American. Her British accent is bad and her Scottish accent is worse. Other than that she does great male voices and adds passion and feelings to each character.

This was a really good story. I first saw Mac and Isabella at odds in the first book, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie and it was clear to see that Isabella and Mac love each other despite their issues so when I started this book I was rooting for their reconciliation from the beginning.

Isabella grew up a proper lady and did everything expected of her, right down to boarding school and her coming out party. This is where Isabella veers off from the course her parents had set for her as Mac Mackenzie crashes her coming out party. He dares her to dance with him, which she shouldn't have but she does anyways, and before the night is over they've eloped and Isabella has been disowned by her rather strict father who cares more about Mac’s Scottish heritage than the fact that the Mackenzie’s are rich and powerful. Isabella was (mostly) happy with Mac for a few years but when his tendency to hurt her (emotionally) eventually became too much for Isabella and she leaves Mac (so they've been officially "separated" for the last 3 years).

Mac Mackenzie is the younger brother of a powerful Duke but his passion lies in painting. Mac is actually known for having a very good talent and he's traveled the world, doing his paintings. Mac fell in love with Isabella from the moment he saw her at her coming out party. He married her right off and things were great at first. Unfortunately, Mac had a tendency to drink (a lot) and take off without notice, leaving Isabella to wonder where he is and what he’s doing. Mac always came back loving and sorry and then treated her like gold, at least for a while, and then he’d do the same thing all over again. It wasn't until Isabella left that Mac stopped drinking but he never got the courage to get Isabella back even though he still loves her and never cheated on her (no cheating either before or after their separation).

During the previous book, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, we got to see a bit of Mac and Isabella during their separation and see that they were both miserable and wanted each other. Ian tells Mac he’s a fool for not having gone after Isabella sooner and this gets Mac motivated (that and seeing Ian happy with his new bride). Mac starts trying to figure out how he can get Isabella to talk to him since she tends to avoid him and her talking to him would greatly help his efforts to get her back. Mac actually lucks out in this regard because Isabella ends up coming to see him. Isabella found a painting that she’s sure Mac didn't paint but was sold and signed as one of his paintings. Isabella tries to get Mac interested in the issue of a forged painting under his name but he doesn't seem to care, taking more interest in trying to get her to stay and talk to him. That doesn't work out so well but they meet up again when Isabella has gone to the store that sold the forgery to try to find out more and Mac shows up at the same time. They talk a bit more but Isabella still can’t seem to get Mac to take someone forging his paintings seriously which frustrates Isabella but she can’t force him to care and drops it for the time being. Mac continues to try to get more of Isabella’s attention; even crashing one of Isabella’s parties to get more time with her (Isabella doesn't have him thrown out because their marriage has already given enough gossip to their peers who eat up any scandal they can find). Isabella still does relatively well at keeping Mac at arm’s length until an arson burns down Mac’s studio and he and his servants suddenly show up on Isabella’s doorstep.

Mac ends up staying with Isabella and soon Isabella ends up joining the Mackenzie family for the races (that take place outside of London) at a rented house since Beth and Ian are going to be there and Beth wanted Isabella to be around for them to visit with each other. Isabella agrees because Beth is the closest thing to a sister Isabella has since her family disinherited her (so she hasn't been able to see her real sister in 6 years). Mac is thrilled to have Isabella near and it gives him more of a chance to get back in to her good graces. However, more weirdness shows up when it becomes apparent that there’s someone there that seems to look a LOT like Mac and Mac wonders if it’s his forger (who was also described as looking like Mac). After the races are done, Isabella and Mac accompany the other Mackenzie's to the Mackenzie home in Scotland. As they start to spend more time together, Isabella realizes that Mac has changed and starts to soften towards him. However, Isabella worries about if his changes will last and be enough. They do start talking though and even a little more as they have trouble keeping their hands off each other (wink, wink). Regardless of this, Isabella isn't willing to jump back in to things with Mac. Some more troubles plague the couple as a woman shows up with a daughter claiming Mac as the father. As things progress it appears that the mysterious man who's been selling his paintings as Mac is a nutter who appears to actually think he's the "real" Mac and thinks Isabella should be with him instead of Mac (the real Mac...). As Mac tries to gain Isabella's trust again, he also has to try to keep her safe from his imposter. Isabella isn't happy to have Mac insist on staying with her for safety but she realizes it's for the best as she wouldn't be able to protect herself from a crazy. The time together gives Mac and Isabella time to get to know each other again and this helps them realize they still love each other and they need to give their marriage another (serious) try. There are some additional issues they have to face before the end but Isabella and Mac do come through their issues and reconcile so they can proceed with their HEA.

This was a really enjoyable story. I really liked both Isabella and Mac and liked the way things worked out for them. They both made mistakes but I liked that they were able to remember what was important and work things out in the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series (which I'm starting in about 10 minutes). I'd recommend this book. Thumbs up. :D

First Thought when Finished: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage made me smile, laugh, cry, grrr, and in the end grin like a Cheshire cat!

Overall Thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage. I was afraid that I wouldn't like Mac but that man was so swoon-worthy and damaged that one couldn't help but fall hard! Isabella was so strong and I appreciated her want to protect herself despite loving Mac. She made him fight for her and dang it that made me love them more. This was an emotional story (so far both books in this series have been) but the payout was worth it!

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated by Angela Dawe /Length 9 hrs and 9 mins

So y'all know I call her Angela "freaking" Dawe already so there isn't much more that I can say! She freaking rocks the narration and is one of my all around favorite narrators!

If you could sum up Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage in three words, what would they be?

Beautiful, Sentimental, Mysterious

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage?

When Isabella & Mac, remember how each other felt at the loss of their baby, and when Mac reads the letter Isabella had left him the night she left him... So moving.

Which character – as performed by Angela Dawe – was your favorite?

I Love the Mackenzie Brothers, but my favourite is still Ian... he does not understand Irony or sarcasm, and I just love how she plays him.I also like Daniel ( Cameron's Teenage son) he is quite "cheeky"

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I LOVE this series, you will laugh and cry, I really cannot wait for Cameron's story. It was my FAVOURITE .

I thought I had over indulged in Regency/Victorian romances to the point that I just could not swallow one more. Too much sugar is bad for you. But then I read a review of The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie that totally captured my attention. I learned it was coming out in audiobook and bought it the day is showed up on Audible. And it did not disappoint. The book was not defined by a time period. It had a fascinatingly weird hero and an equally fascinatingly eccentric heroine. They could have been dropped into Rome in 200 AD or Australia in 2010 and it would not have mattered. They would still have been unique. And thoroughly enjoyable.

So I had high hopes for the next in the series - Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage. Hopes that were ultimately dashed. There was a spark of the eccentric in both of the main characters but that spark was totally undeveloped. Instead he just seemed cruel and self-destructive and she was vapid. Their background was not developed, the explanation of why he treated her so cruelly was weak and just made him more unlikeable. And the fact that she put up with it just made her unsympathetic.

The villain was also only marginally developed and caused very little conflict. The villain, his daughter and his dying ex-lover are totally superfluous. They are introduced, then basically forgot,

The only thing that saved the book were the brief moments when Ian showed up. The author and the narrator understand this character and the way his disability is used to point out the weaknesses of others and flaws in their logic is inventive. Too bad she made Ian's wife, as fascinating as Ian in the first book, such a nonentity in this one. If you blinked you missed her. And you definitely missed her wit.

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. If it had not been for the brief glimpses of Ian, I probably would not have finished the book.

After reading the first book in this series I was eager to hear the next book and it didn't disappoint. Lady Isabella married Mac MacKenzie after knowing him one night. She was young and he was impetuous but now she is older and wiser and knows exactly what she wants and won't settle for less. Mac must go through a journey of discovering who he is and how to win his wife's affections back. This story is touching and human. It shows the flaws we all have deep within us. I love lady Isabella's tough but loving character, she holds her ground and demands that Mac realize how selfish he has been. Ashley's ability to flesh out these two characters and make them interesting is spot on. From beginning to end the listener is drawn in to this story. The complex characters and their relationship to each other and the storyline are enjoyable and I couldn't stop listening. The narrator is good but I wish she could read with more emotion, sometimes she comes off flat and cold. Other than that this is a great listen.

The worst thing that can be said about this book is that it isn't the first book -- which was magnificent. The best thing that can be said is that it continues the story of the Mackenzie family, since Ian and Beth, and all the others, make appearances here. In between, there is a passionate love affair between a married couple, whose separation has emotional depth and a satisfying resolution. And it has the most bizarre villain, ever!

Mac is a tortured painter and ex-alcoholic. He screwed up bad in his marriage, and as a result, his wife asked for a separation. He feels guilty and unworthy, but he loves her desperately, and wants another chance now that he's cleaned up his act.

Isabella is gun shy when it comes to Mac. He hurt her very badly when he left her alone at a time when she needed him the most. She loves him, but she can't let herself trust him.

They both know it's time to try again, but how? They haven't spoken to each other in 3 years.

Enter a mysterious villain who threatens both their lives, bringing them together for mutual survival. The villain is original and strange, and I loved it. Although, there are a few things I would have tweaked: some unexplained details about the bad guy, for instance, and the silly over-the-top adoption. Still, I enjoyed this story very much. The sex scenes were passionate and believable, and by the end, I was in love with Mac.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.